Read More

Marco Silva kept five of the side who won at Bournemouth on Saturday with Brazilians Heurelho Gomes and Richarlison both beginning the game, as well as former France international midfielder Etienne Capoue, who scored against the Cherries.

And Bristol City had a great first half at Vicarage Road, kicking towards the Rookery Stand. They weathered an early storm, then a literal one - almost - at the half an hour mark as the rain lashed down.

Freddy Hinds of Bristol City scores a goal to make it 1-1 (Image: Robbie Stephenson/JMP)

In the first period the visitors only managed some 39 per cent of possession but that didn’t matter as they continually countered so well.

There was only one shot on target in the first period of the game and City had it. Standouts players early on were Lloyd Kelly and the returning Aden Flint as the towering centre-back headed away everything that came the Robins way as he so often does.

That City were able to stifle the Hornets owed a lot early on to Gary O’Neil's industrious running and constant challenges, and intelligent use of the ball and positioning from Jens Hegeler. The pair proved very effective in tandem.

Freddie Hinds broke away several times to menace the home defence with his pace and one break brought a booking to Capoue.

Read More

Things heated up straight after the break as Bobby Reid replaced Famara Diedhiou. First City emerged from the dressing room sleepily and Will Hughes punished them, feeding Capoue to smash past Fielding inside the area.

The Robins then awoke and responded well. First O'Neil started a counter-punch move that ended with the outstanding Hinds rifling in from the edge of the area, before Johnson's side grabbed the lead through another devastating counter-attack.

Read More

Referee Tim Robinson showed a straight red card to Jose Holebas in the late stages as the defender cynically stopped another Robins attack, to chop down Niclas Eliasson as the Swede skipped away from his own half, before Taylor found O'Dowda on the break and Gomes pulled off a wondrous save to keep the tie alive.